U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar Congressman Mark Udall
For Immediate Release March 16, 2006		CONTACTS: Drew Nannis – Sen. Salazar Press Secretary 202-228-3630 Lawrence Pacheco – Cong. Udall Press Secretary (202) 226-7661
Sen. Salazar and Cong. Udall Fight for Rocky Flats Workers, Cold War Veterans WASHINGTON – United States Senator Ken Salazar and U.S. Representative Mark Udall (D-CO, 2nd) expressed their disappointment with the Administration’s proposals to reduce payments under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). This program compensates nuclear weapons workers who became sick due to working with hazardous materials during the Cold War – like those at Rocky Flats, CO. The letter was sent to the Secretaries of Labor and Health and Human Services as well as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The payment reductions are based on an Administration proposal to create unnecessary and artificial barriers to the claims of affected workers. The benefits programs under EEOICPA are mandated by law to base approvals on a scientific basis – the Members of Congress believe the Administration is making decisions based on budgetary concerns. “For workers at Rocky Flats, or anywhere in the country, these changes are unfair and unlawful,” Salazar said. “These government workers sacrificed their health – and in many cases their lives – to work for their country in a time of war. To suggest that those workers’ lawful claims should be denied solely because of budgetary concerns is wrong. We must base our decisions here on scientific facts and the law.” "This appears to be nothing short of an outrageous attempt to subvert Congressional intent, at the expense of Cold War veterans who had the least knowledge of how hazardous their work conditions really were because of the lack of exposure information in their cases," said Udall. "This is not just about money. This is about the government's honor and the honor of our country. The nuclear-weapons workers served America well, and honor demands that they be well served in return." In their letter, the members agreed, “To be clear, we believe it would be contrary to law, contrary to the promises made to the Cold War veterans who served their nation, and contrary to any sense of decency and morality to secretly attempt to balance the budget on the backs of these cancer-stricken workers. The Administration should abandon any thought of implementing such a shameful plan.” The full text of the letter can be accessed by clicking here. # # #